"They weren't boys, were they?"
"No—they were men—both tall and heavy fellows."
"Did you ever see them before?" asked Tom.
"Not that I can remember."
While they were talking the party of four had run down to the edge of the cornfield. This spot was really a peach orchard, but the trees were still so small that the ground was being utilized that season for corn, planted in rows between the trees. The corn was not yet full grown, but it was high enough to conceal a man lying flat or crouching down.
The sky was filled with stars and the old moon was beginning to show over the hills beyond the valley, so it was fairly light across the field. The boys kept their eyes on the corn and the peach trees, but failed to discover any persons moving among them.
"My shotgun is empty—maybe I had better go back and load up," said the hired man.
"Yes, do it, but hurry up," answered Dick. "I'll stay here on guard with the pistol."
The hired man ran off toward the barn. Hardly had he disappeared when Sam gave a short cry and pointed into the field with his hand.
"I saw somebody raise up just now and look around," he said. "He is out of sight now."
